Duopneumatic handle for air-method cleaners



Oct. 10, 1939. REPLQGLE 2,175,643

DUOPNEUMATIC HANDLE FOR AIR-METHOD CLEANERS Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. B/PEPLOGLE,

' 'Mv/ M Oct. 10, 1939. D. B. REPLOGLE DUOPNEUMATIC HANDLEFOR AIR-METHOD CLEANERS Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUOPNE'UMATIC HANDLE FOR AIR-METHOD CLEANERS Application August 11, 1936, Serial No. 95,414

8 Claims.

of the air-method type, which may be selectively employed for floor cleaning purposes or by the use of suitable extension devices may be em-,

ployed for cleaning walls, furniture, draperies and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the flow of dust laden air intothe air filtering and dust collecting device with which the apparatus is equipped, from the floor tool or from the extension devices as the case may be.

Another object is to provide a light weight cleaner, preferably utilizing modern materials such as the recently developed synthetic resins and other plastics, so that the entire apparatus may be readily lifted by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which includes an elongated suction pipe communicating intermediate its ends with the dust separating means and the source of suction, said device being provided with valve means whereby either end of the pipe may be ll placed in communication with said dust collector and source of suction while the other end is cut oif, from the source of suction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaner in which the various elements of the "air-way cleaning system may be utilized.

The invention will be'more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. These are furnished by way of illustration rather than by way ofJimitation;

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved cleaner embodying the invention, portions being broken away to show the interior.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the air-flow control valve in the floor cleaning position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the control valve in position to permit air to be drawn through that end of the suction handle remote from the floor tool.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing in perspec-v Fig. 7 is a side elevation showingthe cleaner in repose position.

Fig. 8 is a rear view showing functioning as a blower, and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the cleaner 5 reversed and the usual handle grip end'serving as a floor tool.

Referring to the drawings in detail the reference numeral l0 denotes a cylindrical housing or caddy which is preferably made of lightweight 10 non-conducting material such as Bakelite or hard fiber. Metal may be employed although nonconductors are preferred.

The reference numeral ll denotes a power plant of multiple type such as is disclosed in my 15 pending application Serial No. 64,420 filed February 17,, 1936, showing a plurality of motor and fan units preferably operating in opposite directions. The said application may be referred to for details of construction. The lower end of 20 the caddy is closed by a removable cap I! preferably provided with a pair of lateral outlets l3, either of which may be capped. Each opening is preferably of suflicient size to take the entire output from the power plant. The device may be arranged to function as a blower as indicated in Fig. 8 in which case an extension device may be attached to one of the outlets while the other is closed by a cap 5|.

A hinged collapsible support I 4 having rollers is preferably provided at a location just above the power plant, this support or bracket being adapted to be opened up as indicated in Fig. 1 wherein the bracket together with the floor tool of the cleaner supports the caddy and associated mechanism in inclined position. The bracket may however be folded against the body of the cleaner so as to be out of the way as indicated in Figs. 7 and 9.

Current may be supplied to the power-plant through the cord l5, part of which may be carried by the caddy while another portion is sep-, arable therefrom and is adapted to be plugged into the portion which is carried by the. caddy and at the other end to be plugged into a wall 46. socket or the like. Owing to the insulating quality of the caddy wall there is no danger of short circuiting.

The upper portion'of the caddy is occupied by the dust collecting and air filtering apparatus. As shown such apparatus includes a removable inner porous paper bag I6 which may be removed when filled and replaced with another bag, the step oftremoval being indicated in Fig. 6. An outer close mesh fabric bag ll composed of l the apparatus cloth, wire netting or other suitable material may be secured within the caddy and serves as an outer support to prevent bursting of the paper bag and to keep the same from contact with the outer walls of the caddy.

The mouth I 8 of the paper bag is shown as connected by means of a flexible band of rubber or the like l9 to the reduced neck of a cap 20 which is provided with a flange 2| fitting within the top of the caddy. This cap is provided with a transparent top 22 which permits the operator to see the amount of dust which is being drawn into the air filtering bag. According to my invention, dust laden air may be drawn into the cap from either of two sources, one of which may be a floor tool located at one end of a tubular suction pipe and the other is located at the opposite end of the suction pipe.

A suitable valve is located intermediate the ends of the suction pipe and is controlled by the angular position of the handle grip. According to the herein described embodiment of the invention the movable portion of the valve is carried by the handle grip while the fixed por-' tion is associated with the transparent cap.

The fixed member associated with the caddy cap is substantially Y-shaped in form and includes a short pipe section 24 communicating with an opening 25 in the top of the cap. This pipe section is preferably permanently secured to the cap and may be of metal, fiber or other material which may be molded, cast or shaped. A valve casing member 26 is secured at the top of the pipe section 24 and is open at the top to receive the movable portion of the valve. The valve casing is in communication with a short pipe section 21 which extends outwardly and communicates with another short member 28 extending downwardly and adapted to fit in a collar 29 which is connected to the top of the caddy. A long pipe section 30, which may be composed of hard fiber, Bakelite, metal or other suitable material, fits into the lower portion of the collar 29 at one end and at the other end fits into a socket 3| integral with the lower cap l2. The pipe 30 is shown as curved so that its ends are at opposite sides of the central axis of the caddy. Another pipe section 32 may be attached to the lower side of the socket 3| and is connected to a floor tool 33 the connection including an inclined rotatable joint 34 as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,994,868 dated March 19, 1935.

To return to the description of the valve mechanism and with particular reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the suction handle grip portion 35 is provided with a swinging valve member 36 which is adapted to be hingedly secured within the valve casing member 26 by means of a bolt 31 which may be provided with conical spring washers at either end so that an air-tight fit may be secured. The valve member 36 is provided with two passages one indicated at 38 being adapted to place the handle grip in communication with the air filtering means through the pipe section 24, while the other 39 is adapted to place the pipe 30 leading from the floor tool in communication with the air filtering means. It will be obvious that when one of the suction passages is operative the other is automatically rendered inoperative and the functioning of the valve is determined by the angular position of the handle grip 35.

In Fig. 2 the valve is shown in position to place the floor tool in operative position while in Fig.

3 the floor tool is rendered inoperative whereas the extension tube on the handle grip portion communicates'with the source of suction.

The cap 20 and associated mechanism is adapted to be held in position by means of a bail 40 secured to a strap at the top of the caddy and fitting behind a detent 4| on the stub pipe section 21.

When the bail 40 is lowered as indicated in Fig. 6 the cap together with the inner dust collecting bag and also the valve mechanism associated with the cap may be withdrawn from the caddy to permit replacement of the bag.

A tension spring 42 tends to hold the handle grip and associated valve mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to render the floor cleaning apparatus operative but the valve may be locked in the other position by any suitable means as for example a U-shaped'latch 43, the legs of which fit into bosses 44 while the loop of the U-shaped member engages a notch 45 thereby tending to hold the valve against the tension of the spring 42.

Operation For ordinary floor cleaning purposes the apparatus assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 with the handle grip portion in the lowered position. The bracket or support I4 is opened up and it, together with the rollers on the ends of the floor tool, serves to support the cleaner in the inclined position shown. The cleaner may be moved to and fro over the floor in the usual manner. The handle grip having been placed in the proper position current is turned on and the fan motor started thus creating suction which draws dust laden air into the filter where the dust is separated from the air and the filtered air discharged through one or both of the outlets I3 or through a suitable blower pipe or other suitable extension devices where blowing action is desired as indicated in Fig. 8. A suitable length of flexible hose may be employed to reach any desired position and any desired type of extension devices or extension tools may be used.

When the cleaner bag has become fouled by continued use, the bail 48 is lowered permitting the cap 20 with the inner bag I6 attached thereto to be withdrawn by means of the grip member 35 serving as a handle. The old bag may then be removed and replaced by a new one. The bag and cap are then assembled with the caddy and held in place by the bail 40.

When it is desired to draw air through the handle grip portion 35 the same is raised against the tension of the spring and may be held in place by the U-shaped latch member or other suitable mechanism.

The hose extension members may be attached to the handle grip and used for cleaning walls, ceilings, furniture, draperies and the like. Such extension members are disclosed for example in my Patent No. 1,533,271 dated April 14, 1925.

The open end of the handle grip 35 may be supported by a bracket 46 which may be of the flexible type shown in my Patent No. 1,884,870 dated Oct. 25, 1932. This bracket may be provided with a hollow connector member 47 such as shown in the aforesaid patent to which is attached an extension hose 48 provided with a dusting tool on one end which may be of the type shown in my Patent No 1,994,871 dated March 19, 1935. Obviously any type of extension members may be utilized.

. right angles to the central axis of the fixed mem- When the cleaner is in the closeted position shown in Fig. 7 it performs substantially the function of the usual stationary suction cleaning apparatus but may be readily released to function for ordinary floor cleaning purposes. If desired the floor tool may be supported as in my Patent No. 1,884,868 dated October 25, 1932 to prevent the same from sliding away from the wall or the body of thecleaner may be supported in any suitable manner. It will be observed that the tension of the spring-bracket 46 is directed in such a manneras to tend to overcome the tension of the spring 42 and thus the bracket B5 is possessed of greater strength than the spring may serve to hold the valve open so as to connect with the extension devices and to disconnect the floor tool without requiring the assistance of the U-shaped latch member 43.

Owing to the lightness of the cleaner as a whole, due to the light weight materials employed, the body of the cleaner may be lifted by the operator and they apparatus used in the inverted position shown in Fig. 9. In this case "the extension pipe 32 and the floor tool 33 may be held in the hand of the operator. The pipe section 35 insuch case serves as a floor tool.

If desired the usual fioor tool 33 may be removed from the pipe 32 and attached to the member 35, the floor tool being removable as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,994,868, and the diameter of .the pipe 35 being the same as that of the pipe 32.

It will be observed that the weight of the cleaner tends to hold the valve against the tension of the spring 42 so that where the member 35 is used as a floor tool with the apparatus in the inverted position the holding latch 43 again becomes non-essential. able to use this member to prevent the pipe 35 from folding over whenever downward pressure is released as when the cleaner'is lifted entirely from the floor.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that many variations and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

I claim: I

1. .A suction cleaner comprising a suction pipe handle adapted to connect with suction cleaning tools at either end, suction producing and dust collecting means operatively connected to the handle intermediate its ends. said handle includin; .a relatively fixed pipe section and a movable handle grip portion hingedly connected to the section, and valve means actuated by said ,"movsble portion serving'tc selectively place one end :of the handle in communication with the producing means, while cutting 01f comrmunlcation with the other end, the movable sec- "tion being mounted to swing about a pivot at right angles to the axis of the fixed pipe section.

2. A suction cleaner comprising a cylindrical r having an inlet opening at oneend and a opening at the other, and housing suction producing means at the discharge end .and dust collecting and air filtering means at the other, a. cup for said container having aninlet through which dust laden air may be drawn by add suction producing means, and valve means I l said inletand adapted to connect the me with one or another of a pair of airways, leading from diiterent cleaning tools, one of said airways being relatively fixed and the other com- It r n piling a pivoted handle grip member connected "with the movable portion of the valve, said handle grip being adapted to swing about a pivot at However it may be desir-' ber.

3. A suction cleaner comprising a cylindrical container having an inlet opening at one end and a discharge opening at the other, and housing suction producing means at one end and dust collecting and air filtering means at the other, a cap for said container having an inlet through which dust laden air may be drawn by said suction producing means, valve means controlling said inlet and adapted to connect the same with one or another of a pair of airways, leading irom different cleaning tools, one of said airways comprising a pivoted handle grip member connected with the movable portion of the valve, and the other being relatively fixed, and means for. retaining the handle grip portion in one or an other of two angular positions, to regulate the direction of air flow, said handle grip being adapted to swing about a pivot at right angles to the central-axis of the fixed member.

4. In a suction cleaner, a suction producing and air filtering means, a floor tool, a hinged suction pipe having'a valve means associated therewith adapted to connect the floor tool to said suction producing and air filtering means when down-- ward pressure is applied to the fioor tool, resilient means tending to move the valve to cut off communication through said hinged pipe when the tool is lifted from the floor, and means whereconnected to the fixed section, and valve means actuated by the movable section for controlling the flow of air through said suction pipe, the movable section being mounted to swing about a pivot at right angles to the axis of the fixed pipe section. V

6. In a portable suction cleaner, a source of suction, an open ended suction pipe communicating intermediate its ends with the source of suction, and adapted to be connected at either end with suction tools, said pipe including a rela-' tively fixed pipe section and a. movable section hingedly connected to the fixed section and adapted to serve as a handle grip for moving the cleaner across the floor, valve means actuated by angular movement of saidhandle grip for controlling flow of air through said suction pipe, resilient means urging the handle grip to one angular position, and means for latching the handle grip in another angular position.

'7. A suction cleaner comprising a tubular conduit having an air inlet and a discharge outlet, air filtering means within said conduit, a suctio'i pipe communicating intermediate its ends with the inlet end of said conduit, and adapted to be connected at either end with suction tools, said pipe including a relatively fixed pipe section and a movable section hingedly connected to the fixed section, and valve means, actuated by swinging said .movable section about itshinge to one of two angular positions, tor directing the flow of being mounted to swing about a pivot at right angles to the axis of the fixed pipe section.

I 8. A suction-cleaner, comprising a tubular container having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other and housing air filtering means adjacent the inlet end, communicating with a source of suction, a tubular member extending lengthwise of the container and fixed thereto, and a detachable tubular fitting including three interconnected pipe sections, one of which is provided witha cap adapted to fit the inlet end of said container, another of which is adapted to fit the top of said fixed tubular member, while the third 10 pipe section is movable with reference to the DANIEL BENSON REPLOGIE. 

